Development and testing of mycopesticide formulations of Metarhizium anisopliae for shelf life and field application against Spodoptera litura larvae

Author(s): Bhanu Prakash G.V.S*, Ravi Sankar U. V., Padmaja V.

Abstract

solid state fermentation using sorghum/barley/rice grains. Shelf life and viability of oil formulatations as well as unformulated infective propagules was tested by germination bioassay and pathogenicity studies on Spodoptera litura larvae. Viability of unformulated conidiospores stored at three temperatures (4°C, -30°C and room temperature) was understood using germination bioassay. Studies on seven oil formulations and two powdered formulations for shelf life at 4°C, revealed 60% viability of conidiospores formulation with gingelly oil, stored for six months. Virulence of the infective propagules studied against third instar Spodoptera litura larvae during six months storage demonstrated insect mortality ranging from 40 to 88.33% with LT50 values of 4.63 to 13.07 days. Field application of infective propagules on Vigna sinensis crop heavily infested with S. litura suggested insect mortality ranging from 51.35% to 88.65% at 1X1012 conidia/ ml of gingelly oil formulation.

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